Saturday, February 12, 2011

Blustery day

Don't you just love some words? I love that word "blustery," which means something (or someone) characterized by strong winds. I woke last night to the sound of the wind, gusting right now to somewhere close to 50 mph. I almost didn't go on the usual Saturday morning walk with the Fairhaven walkers group because of it. I'm glad I went anyway, because although the first part of the six-mile loop was into the wind, the last part (pictured above) simply blew us right back to the Woods coffee shop.

That's Linda from the Senior Trailblazers with her dog Riley. Our leader, Cindy, is a former race walker who zips back and forth from the front to the back of the group of somewhere around a dozen of us. The pace is faster than I would be walking alone, somewhere around 15-minute miles, and it helps to complement the other exercise I get. Plus I knew I would be able to eat more food on my diet if I got this walk in. Keeping my metabolism up as I get older is something I work hard at.

I'm not sure when I'll be traveling to Florida to be with my sister during this time. Pete didn't want a funeral, but they will be having a celebration of his life on the 20th, with the possibility of Norma Jean traveling to Texas after that. The majority of our family lives there, and bringing her to them rather than having a huge inundation of family all at once makes more sense. I'm really wanting to do whatever I do for my sister, because I feel I made peace with Pete already. It hurts me to think of her being all alone, but her daughter and son are with her now, so that isn't an issue. It's later than I think I'll be needed. It's always a hard thing to figure out the details.

I just heard a wind gust that sounded very high, and after checking the weather I see we are under a wind advisory until 9:00 pm tonight. It's kind of scary; the winds here can be extreme. I thought I knew high winds in Colorado. As I look out onto the porch, the birds are hanging on the feeders as they swing back and forth. The birds are old hands at this, it seems.

Yesterday I had another ultrasound, this time to take a look at just the thyroid and its nodules. The blood work came back with my TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) within the normal range, but definitely on the low end of normal, and now I suspect that the doctor will tell me they will just keep an eye on it. This technician (a woman this time) told me that almost half of all women have these nodules on their thyroid. I wonder why women are more prone to them and what they might mean.

Well, that's the news from my part of the universe. I am now heading downtown to listen to a free concert by the Interfaith Choirs. Our leader Al from the Senior Trailblazers told us about it; half a dozen or so choirs from different churches are giving this, something from each and then hundreds of voices together raised in song. He said he would have a solo but not to let that keep us away. It sounds uplifting, so I'm off to check it out!
:-)

19 comments:

  1. Good news on the thyroid! 50 mph winds: that's high! Especially high for walking. Love the photos.

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  2. Looks pretty dreary on your side of the USA with that overcast grey sky. I suppose those winds will make their way here in a few days.
    That is good news about your TSH level. The lower the better.
    Norma Jean may need you more in the days ahead - after she finds herself alone in a new routine without Pete. Maybe you will be able to spend time with her then.

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  3. Sounds good about your thyroid.

    It concerns me that you are hungry between meals. That's a red flag that your plan isn't right. It also means it's not likely to be a permanent change. That makes you vulnerable to gaining back what you've lost plus a little more. You should not be hungry between meals.

    I agree that your sister will need you more later. There's usually plenty of people around just after a death. A visit from you in coming weeks sounds better to me.

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  4. nice. have fun tonight at the concert, do be careful with that wind though...and great news on the thyroid!

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  5. Hi DJan, I'm here from Sally's blog. I enjoyed reading your post and look forward to returning.

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  6. The concert definitely sounds uplifting...enjoy. and keep safe out there in that wind.
    love and hugs...

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  7. The day might be blustery,but you are very busy and active. That keeps both body and mind in good shape.

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  8. The wind didn't reach here until this afternoon. When we went back outside after lunch to work more on our pruning job (see my blog) the wind was whipping the tall firs over our heads and throwing more fir boughs for me to pick up.

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  9. It's always good to head into the wind first, and then let it blow you back home. Maybe there's a metaphor in there.

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  10. Good news re the thyroid.

    I know you'll be with your sister just when she needs you the most, because you're just so sensitive and aware of others needs that way.

    Blustery day always makes me think of Winnie the Pooh. :)

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  11. One of my favorite weather-related terms is "wintery mix:. Delightful.

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  12. You really do amaze me. I love to walk, but not in the wind! When the wind blows, I stay inside.

    I'm glad the tests on the thyroid came back ok.

    I agree; your sister will need you later. I'm glad she is traveling to be with family. I think that will help.

    Sometime, in a private exchange, I would like to ask you if you know a young man who was quite a skydiver in the Ft. Collins area. I bet you know him. Where did you do all of your skydiving in Colorado?

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  13. DJan,
    Two things I love: a blustery day, and good choir. So you had a great day, in my book!

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  14. I hear we are in store for blustery here tomorrow. I am glad you are having your Thyroid checked out..it can't hurt:)

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  15. The wind knocked the power out for us, so we decided to go out into it (of course!). Took some amazing shots of the waves... I'll be posting them later.

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  16. Isn't the wind amazing? Here in NE the winds get pretty wild too. There have been times the wind was so strong I was unable to open the side door at the hotel where I worked. And one time I pulled into a grocery store parking lot, opened my car door and if I had not had my hand in a place hold it the wind would have ripped off the door. As it was the door blew open and almost pulled me with it. I have been thinking of you and all the things in your life you are forever coming to terms with. And it makes me happy for you that you do work at coming to terms with events that are painful and sorrowful.

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  17. I had a very funny experience with strong winds, the last time we went on the airshow. I was eating and I put some food on my plate, there was this the one you called "blustery" and all of a sudden it blew out all the food in my plate. Bad wind.

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  18. The only times it is blustery in Hawaii is when we are having a hurricane. Otherwise, the trade winds, as we call them, are mild and gentle.

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  19. That is great about your thyroid. I wonder if there is a relation to stress-women seem to stress more- or hormones.

    I am certain that whenever you decide to go see Norma Jean, your presence will be appreciated.

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